Rigney steps down at Bellingham

If the rebuilding process for the Bellingham football team is to continue in 2010, it will be without head coach Ted Rigney.

Rick Smith/Daily News staff

If the rebuilding process for the Bellingham football team is to continue in 2010, it will be without head coach Ted Rigney.

Rigney, a seven-year head coach for the Blackhawks, submitted his letter of resignation during the February school vacation and recently met with his players to inform them of his decision.

"When I started coaching in 1991, I was 23, just out of college and didn't have a care in the world," said the 42-year-old Rigney. "Right now, I'm pretty tired. It has nothing to do with our record the last two years. The energy and time it takes to be a head coach was starting to take its toll. I need to step away and recharge my batteries."

Rigney's seven-year record at the helm for Bellingham was 34-43. Ironically, his best and worst records as the head coach were accomplished in back-to-back seasons. His Blackhawks were 9-2 in 2007 and followed that up with an 0-11 mark in 2008. Bellingham was 2-9 this past season.

"Ted has been at it for 19 seasons, between being a head coach and an assistant before that," said Bellingham athletic director Leo Dalpe. "He and his wife have a young family and I think he wanted to spend more time with his wife and children."

Rigney, a 1985 Bellingham graduate who played offensive line and linebacker for the Blackhawks, and his wife Karen have two young sons: Teddy (5) and Liam (3).

Dalpe hopes to have Rigney's replacement before too long.

"We'll probably advertize the position until March 12 and then start the interview process shortly thereafter," said Dalpe. "We'll go from there depending on the number of applicants."

Dalpe isn't sure if any of Rigney's assistants are interested in applying for the job. But he is sure that the football program has lost a good man.

"Ted's a great guy," said Dalpe. "We're certainly are going to miss him."

Rigney knows he will miss the relationships that he was able to form because of the sport.

"I love the game and I'll miss working with the kids," said Rigney. "The best part was the relationships, whether it be with the kids, the coaches on my staff or the coaches around the league."

Despite the record, Rigney will always have a soft spot in his heart for last year's team.

"Those two wins mean as much to me as our Super Bowl years," said Rigney. "Those kids (last fall) gave me everything they had. They couldn't have played any harder."

One of the things on Rigney's agenda will be a phone call to Dale Caparaso in Florida. Caparaso was the head coach when Rigney began his coaching career.

"That's going to be a tough phone call," said Rigney. "I think we built something special here."

The Blackhawks have struggled the past two seasons, but that had nothing to do with his decision to step down, according to Rigney.

"There was nothing negative about my leaving," said Rigney. "It was time to step aside."

(Rick Smith is a Daily News staff writer. He can be reached at 508-626-4404 or rsmith@cnc.com.)

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